Sideloading supermarkets

Suppose that there were a problem with kids drinking in a supermarket parking lot in Wellington.

Among the things that the police can already do about it:

• If the supermarket is within the liquor ban area*, which this one is, then the police could enforce the existing ban on drinking there;**
• If the kids are disorderly, they could be arrested for disorderly behaviour;
• If the supermarket were selling to those underaged, or to those who are intoxicated, the supermarket could be sanctioned for each instance.

Instead, the police are opposing the supermarket's liquor licence renewal. 

I suppose that eventually having a ban on all downtown alcohol sales barring pricey craft beers could help the police to keep their rostering costs down. 

* The default in NZ is that you are allowed to drink in public unless there is a ban in place on open liquor in those specific public places.

** The story notes that the police did have one blitz on public drinking in that supermarket. I doubt it would take many of these to stop the problem.